An Atom Across America (Again)
I'll be driving the Atom to Laguna Seca (what the heck, it's just all the way across the country :lol:) for an event from the 8th to the 10th of July and then back later in the month.
Google Map heading out (click on the pic for live map): http://www.tmk.com/transient/out.jpg Google Map heading back (likewise): http://www.tmk.com/transient/back.jpg If there's anybody along the route that wants to say Hi, this is your chance! You can find up-to-date PDF schedules here and here. Note that only dates marked with a [*] are guaranteed to have me where I say I'll be - figure on a couple of days of slack either way for weather on the other days. |
I-70 through Colorado would be a lot more interesting than I-80 through Wyoming.
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Hey Terry,
The my wife and I are working this summer in an amusement park right off 80 east of Des Moines. We are living in the adjacent RV park to Adventureland in Altoona. adventureland I work late shifts (3 PM till closing) and am off on Tuesdays. If you are bored of corn fields by then, stop by and look us up. Doug |
Terry -
Unfortunately I'll be in China for most of late July, so no chance to head up to N AZ as you head through. If I could make one suggestion though... You might want to consider a stop in Flagstaff instead of Kingman. It's about 90 minutes further, but higher altitude and you'll get out of the heat. Kingman in late July can easily be 105+ but Flagstaff will be below 90... You start to climb up into the mountains about 30 miles or so east of Kingman... |
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Schedules, itineraries,...pheh. :ack::mad2: :irate: "It was better before, before they voted for what's his name, this is supposed to be the new world, Flint, Ford, Auto, Mobile, Alabama, Windshield wiper, Buffalo, New York Gary, Indiana don't forget the motor city, Baltimore, D.c. now all we need is, don't forget the motor city, this was supposed to be the new world" |
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I'm in Peoria. You'll be in the middle of a very boring stretch when you roll through.
I'll check back in closer to July. |
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although, it's now a fun way to fish with a compound bow. Rile them up and shoot them in the air, then reel them in. :D |
I see you're passing by Reno.
Just to let you know, I've never seen an Atom up close. ;) :D |
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Sabotage?!?!
As far as I (and a Chevy dealer) can tell, someone performed some late-night adjustments on the Atom (which was under a car cover at the time) just outside of Indianapolis a couple days ago.
After a day and a half of troubleshooting, we determined that the powertrain control relay wasn't kicking in. The dealer rigged a bypass to get me going, since I was way behind schedule at that point. About 150 miles down the road from the dealer, I noticed that my TomTom GPS had shut down due to a low battery condition. That's odd, as it is connected to the car wiring for power. On investigating, I discovered that the latching power connector for the TomTom dock (which could not have come apart by accident) was unplugged. While looking around under there, I found that one of the 2 smaller wires to the master disconnect switch was unplugged and dangling. Reconnecting that got my powertrain relay working again, so I removed the bypass the dealer had put in. I have no idea why anyone would do such a thing. I'd accept that one of these might just be from vibration, but 2 in the same area (one of which is a locking connector) is really suspicious. I've made up a half a day and am now only one day behind schedule. I'm in Lincoln, NE tonight. This means that I rushed past and didn't get a chance to visit w/ Kognito, unfortunately. But if I'm to make the start of the race, I have to go flat out every day to get to CA in time. |
Think it is possible that a complete moron tried to hot wire, and steal it??
Sorry for your delays, I would really like to see your Atom one day. Drive safe! Doug They are hosting the national "Wing-Ding" for Honda Goldwing owners, and GoodGuy's car show/swap meet here in Des Moines this weekend. . . .Bikes and Hot Rods (3500 of them) are all over the place here this week. I seriously need to get a digital camera for the car. Some incredible restored cars cruizing around |
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I have to do 400+ miles tomorrow to get to Salinas. I'm not sure what time I'll be passing through Reno, or what time(s) you're free. If you PM me a phone number, I'll call you in the morning. |
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I'm usually free in the mornings, and work 1530 till 0200 (four 10-hour shifts....gotta love them !). I'll PM my number, maybe we can meet somewhere off I-80. (If you have time, I live 10 miles north of the interstate in Sparks). |
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And near where I'll be towards the end of the month. Nuts.... Timing sucks.... |
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Hopefully, next time you're in the area, I can get to meet you and the car. :) |
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Last night I was in Half Moon Bay.
Today I'm heading into the woods (2 days in Yosemite, 2 in Sequoia, and 2 in Death Valley) so I may not have access to post updates for nearly a week. |
Just FYI Terry,
Almost every Safeway store out there has a Starbucks inside (internet!) |
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Safeway stores themselves have free wifi...
Starbucks also has free wifi now... |
Here are a couple pictures from Yosemite:
Half Dome and falls viewed from Glacier Point: http://www.atomacrossamerica.org/6F5S7723-s.jpg Upper Yosemite Falls: http://www.atomacrossamerica.org/6F5S7707-s.jpg They have the most inept road construction crews ever - they have actually removed the paved Highway 41 / Wawona Road and replaced it with a rutted dirt trail for around 10 miles, with other bad patches as well. |
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As you probably all know, I'm our own "Captain Slow". I mostly go to the Atom events to socialize. Some of the other guys take it a lot more seriously...
At Laguna Seca, one of the other Atom owners did a 1:33.something (we're waiting for the certified transponder figures). According to this article, the former production car record lap was held by a 2010 Viper ACR. Until Darin's Atom came along. :D According to info I have, the record bike times are: Superbike - Tommy Hayden 1:26.100 MotoGP - Dani Pedrosa 1:23.158 |
By the way, Roy's in Amboy is open again, selling gas, souvenirs, and so forth:
http://www.atomacrossamerica.org/6F5S7894-s.jpg Ran across a classic MG on the side of the road, chatted with the owner for a bit: http://www.atomacrossamerica.org/route66-2-s.jpg You'll note that it is being displayed in its natural habitat - on the side of the road with the hood up. :D Read more on my blog here. |
Today was one of those days:
http://www.atomacrossamerica.org/winona-1-s.jpg http://www.atomacrossamerica.org/winona-2-s.jpg More on the blog, as usual. Texas folks (particularly DFW) - I'll be coming through somewhat north of you (Wichita Falls) sometime over the next few days. PM or reply here if you want to discuss a get-together. |
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One of these days i'll make it back out there. Prolly not going to go fossil digging again (too strenuous for this old body), but will have to find the general store and the flying saucer repair station in Chambliss again. |
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And put up a parking lot With a pink hotel, a boutique And a swinging hot SPOT Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got ‘Til it's gone They paved paradise And put up a parking lot Quote:
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I just saw this thread today. Anyways... I saw you came through Knoxville, I wish I had known. I guess you skipped The Dragon this trip?
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My videos of the Atom Coastal Cruise (Golden Gate Bridge and tunnel segment) are now up on YouTube:
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Spec Race Atom, VIR, 7-16-11 How the heck do you embed a Vimeo video here, anyway? :dunno: |
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